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Thursday, 4 May 2017

Update on the Islanders

I haven't posted on this blog for a long time, as most of my efforts have been devoted to www.scottishboating.blogspot.co.uk, where you will find an archive of general information, mostly about boats and mostly in Scotland. Meantime my Stroma remains for sale and is safely on shore at Cairnbaan on the Crinan Canal in the care of Adam Way.

I'm determined to sell Stroma, as she really needs someone younger to take her on, but it's quite a wrench after so long. The above image was taken in Loch Craignish during our first season together in 1977.

Yachts in the Islands Class and similar deliver exhilarating, very stylish sailing. They are safe and seaworthy with their long keels and ideal for anyone sailing with a light crew, as the small jib is easy to handle. It's better to have at least one person with you, although they are easy to single hand, as I and many owners have found over the years. I have decided that at my age it's better to do so on something designed for the purpose.

Recently there has been an interesting development, which one hopes will lead to a revival of interest in classic Scottish yachts in general and Islanders in particular. The Clyde Keelboats Association has been formed by a group of enthusiasts with the purpose of saving, renovating and supporting them. In time it's likely that a new generation will come forward to take them on and enjoy them.

The Association has made a great start by buying Sanda and Jura, which are both in need of serious restoration. Both are also now in the care of Adam Way.

In the meantime Canna, yacht number 10 has been acquired by Richard Thom, grandson of the legendary Herbert, who commissioned her, and beautifully restored, also by Adam Way. You'll find a recent post about her on Scottish Boating. As you will see from that and the preceding post the new generation is starting to arrive on the scene.

Finally on a sad note, Adam Bergius, whose name is intimately linked with the Islanders, recently passed away after a long and wonderful life. His mother was a successful helm pre-War in Jura and Adam told me that on his return from the Far East, expecting to go straight to work in Teachers he found that Jura was his thank you for returning home safely and he took off for a cruise up the West coast with some friends, despite it being October.

I'm sharing a letter he sent me about the Bergius Rosebowl, which I had recently recovered and returned to him. Subsequently three yachts turned out for the event, which ran as part of West Highland Week 2004. Stroma won the series, but as so few of us took part I felt it was more appropriate to return the bowl to Adam in the hope that in time a larger fleet would be assembled. That day may now be approaching!

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WHAT THIS BLOG IS ABOUT

This blog was set up to provide an archive of information about the Islanders and the people involved with them and nearly a year on it now contains most of the available material, which I hope is a good historical record. I am now tending to edit existing posts to make them more accurate, rather than writing new ones. I am posting most new material, especially anything that is of interest more generally on www.scottishboating.blogspot.com

www.scottishboating.blogspot.com

My other boating blog contains what I hope is a treasure trove of historical material, tales of excursions at home and abroad, boat design and construction, together with the ongoing general musings that bloggers indulge in, so do visit www.scottishboating.blogspot.com

Welcome from the Editor

I first sailed on a Scottish Islander in the early 1970s and have owned Stroma since 1976. For some years I have been gathering material for a book, which may eventually materialise, but until that happens this blog is available as a place where history can be recorded and information preserved.

I hope that owners and friends of the boats will enjoy these pages and contribute anecdotes, tales of epic voyages, photographs or whatever.

I do hope to publish a book on the Class in due course and if you post anything here I will assume that you consent to my using your material for this purpose.

The Editor

One sunny day on the loch

Communicating with me

If you have material you would like to send to me or if you wish to raise any issue without formally commenting you can do so by emailing me at ewangkennedy@gmail.com. I will not publish anything without your express consent.